#ROADTOBOA Interview: Souls of Jack Ketch

Here we go again… Last year we covered every band on the Hobgoblin New Blood and Jagermeister stages in the run-up to Bloodstock 2015. This year, we’re going one better and aim to have interviews from all the bands on those two stages as well as all of those on the SOPHIE stage prior to the event kicking off on August 11th. That’s almost 100 interviews to get online for you lucky people over the course of the next couple of weeks. I bloody love this job, but you lot owe me a beer at Catton Hall, right?

We’ve all known each other for years through mates and previous bands we’ve all been part of.

How long have you been playing together as a band?

Although it’s not the original lineup, the band formed in early 2012.

Where does the name of the band come from?

It was an idea from our guitarist Lee. He knew about Jack Ketch and thought it would be a good idea. Basically, Jack Ketch is an infamous executioner under King Charles II. He hated the aristocracy and was famed for his botched executions of the rich and people of noble standing. In comparison, he always made sure executions of the lower classes were clean and quick.

What are your influences – individually or as a band?

We have a varied mix of influences in the band. We’ve all been metal heads since forever and take influence from straight up metal, thrash, hardcore, punk, doom, death. If it gets our heads nodding, it gets a thumbs up.

Describe your music. What makes you unique?

We’ve been referred to a lot as death thrash metal, which we think is about right. What we think makes us unique, is that we don’t try and fit into a particular classification of metal. We just write what we like and see what happens. If it’s loud and heavy and we have fun with it, then we’re doing it right!

What’s your live show like – why should the baying hordes troop over to the stage you’re playing on to watch you?

We live by no compromises and live to play live. It’s what really gets us going and we feel our performances reflect that. High energy, heavy riffs, thumping drums, brutal vocals and of course… good banter!

When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?

We made it to the Newcastle M2TM final and won on 17th June.

What sort of setlist can we expect?

Our setlist will be made up of a majority of new tracks, with a couple of our older favourites thrown in. Lots of thrash with a death/doom twist to it.

Which main stage band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?

Man, that’s a tough one, as there’s so many amazing bands playing. Although individual members may have different answers, as a whole, we’d have to say Slayer!

What are you working on at the moment?

We have a number of gigs and festivals to play this year, but in the meantime we’re working on new material for the second album.

What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done on tour?

It has to be playing Fleshtival in Edinburgh a couple of years back. All day, 2 stages, so many amazing bands and it was honestly like a 24hr party. We kept on partying with several of the bands until our bodies literally gave out. Hangovers from hell, but 100% worth it!

What advice would you give to a young band just starting out today?

Do it because it’s what you love and have a passion for regardless of where it takes you. If your goal is purely to have fame and fortune, then just give up now. Be prepared for ups and downs, but just keep at it and keep true to what you want to do as a band.

If you could be part of any 3-band line-up who else would you have on the bill? One band above you and one below – a chance to plug a smaller, unsigned act!